The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-13
Suggestions Worth Considering.

The MORNING NEWS, within the last year
or two, has time and again called attention
to the ACCESSIBILITY of so amending the con-
stitution as to relieve the Legislature of
| great deal Of the work that it is now called
upon to do. More than half of every ses-
sion is taken up with little local measures
which could be muchs better attended to by
city councils or county commissioners A
| few constitutional amendments clothing the
authorities of counties and cities with the
power to do certain things would so lessen
| the pressure upon the Legislature that one
short session in every two years would an
swer every purpose, and greatly reduce the
| financial burden of the State
One of the ablest members of the Legisla-
ture, in speaking of this matter few days
| ago, said at is often asked how the ses-
sions can be shortened. The answers are
various, but most all agree that some good
would result from constitutional amend
ments to accomplish these objects, viz: ~
To pay members and officials of the Legis-
lature salaries, instead of a per diem COM
pensation, it being understood that the Leg
islature shall sit for not less than a certain
specified number of days, with the privilege
of sitting longer, but without compensation
e. Dispense with the first reading of bills;
let them be read by caption only, and re-
ferred to their appropriate committees
81 Give local authorities more scope in
purely local matters. Let fishing, hunting
and many other questions be sot-
tied by popular vote, like the
questions relating to fences and
the sale of whisky are now settled.
a. Provide some less expensive tribunal
than the Legislature to decide whether or
not an insurance company, which has failed
to make its return in accordance with the
law, shall be relieved of the penalty or not,
and whether tax collector who is guilty of
omissions, oversights, errors and delays in
the performance of his duty, shall be excused
or not There are any number of these petty
and annoying matters which occupy the
time of the Legislature. II is difficult to
dispose of them quickly, because the princi-
pals in them have strong. friends, who will
not be satisfied until they get what they
want. If an unfavorable report is made,
the committee having charge of the matter
| is certain to be urged and worried to grant
if the committee refuses to reopen the case
an effort is at once made to have the bill in
volving the matter under consideration
recommitted Sometimes bills Of this class
deal with only small amounts. 1t often
costs the State much more to dispose of
one Of them than the sum at stake in it."
Doubtless, in all such matters the opinion
of the Comptroller General, Treasurer, or
other State officer decides the course of the
committee. Why would it not be better,
therefore, to leave them in the hands of
these officers altogetheri
There is no doubt that if three of the
ablest members of this Legislature were to be
appointed as a commission to report TO the
next Legislature a plan for lessening the
subjects for legislation, and thereby shorten
ing the sessions of the Legislature, they
could discover ways to save thousands of
dollars to the State annually, and that too.
without depriving the people Of any privi-
lege or right they are entitled to, or ought
to have.